Campus Journalism Act of 1991

RA 7079 also known as Campus Journalism Act of 1991 was inaugurated on July 5, 1991. On
Section 2 - Declaration of Policy, it was stated that the purpose of this act is to uphold and
safeguard the freedom of speech even at the campus level and promote the development and
growth of campus journalism as a means for empowering ethnic values, encouraging critical
and creative thinking, as well as developing moral characters and personal discipline of the
Filipino youth. Furthermore, it was stated that the State shall also undertake various
programs and projects aimed at improving journalistic skills of students concerned and
promoting responsible and free journalism.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. –

(a) School. – An institution for learning in the elementary, secondary or tertiary level
comprised of the studentry, administration, faculty and non-faculty personnel;
(b) Student Publication. – The issue of any printed material that is independently
published by, and which meets the needs and interests of the studentry;
(c) Student Journalist. – Any bona fide student enrolled for the current semester or
term, who was passed or met the qualification and standards of the editorial board.He
must likewise maintain a satisfactory academic standing.
(d) Editorial Board. – In the tertiary level, the editorial board shall be composed of
student journalists who have qualified in placement examinations.In the case of
elementary and high school levels, the editorial board shall be composed of a duly
appointed faculty adviser, the editor who qualified and a representative of the
Parents-Teachers' Association, who will determine the editorial policies to be
implemented by the editor and staff members of the student publication concerned.
At the tertiary level, the editorial board may include a publication adviser at the option of its
members.
(e) Editorial Policies. – A set of guidelines by which a student publication is operated
and managed, taking into account pertinent laws as well as the school administration's
policies.Said guidelines shall determine the frequency of the publication, the manner
of selecting articles and features and other similar matters.

Section 4 - Student Publication:

In this section, it was stated that a student publication is published by the student body
through an editorial board and publication staff composed of students
Early School Publication
 Before 1900, the principle was that “where there is a student body, there is a need
for a news organ”
 School publication was just a dotted account with little significance other than the
birth of the school publication
 In the 1920s, literary essay had given way to the feature story
- Poetry abdicated its position to the columns;
- News Story suggested interpretation; and
- Editorial entered the paper

Four Distinct Types of Publication emerged (1900s):

 Newspaper
 The annual, now called, yearbook
 Magazine
 Handbook
*half of the school papers that are published today began between 1920 to 1940

What is Journalism?
 Writing for publication in newspapers and other publications
 Something that embraces all forms wherein the news reaches the public
 A form of writing that tells people about things that really happened, but that they might
not have known about already
 The most important characteristics shared by good journalists is curiosity. Good
journalists love to read and want to find out as much as they can about the world around
them.